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The cost of flying the Government delegation to Pukapuka for the Purapura Games today (Monday October 6) is $31,150.
However the actual cost to the Civil List is expected to be only half that amount, because some seats on the charter flight, which involves the aircraft making two return trips, will be made available to private individuals.
The six-member delegation will make the four-hour flight in a chartered Air Rarotonga aircraft because there is no regular scheduled service to the remote island. The aircraft must refuel on Aitutaki before going on to the remote island, 1200kms northwest of Rarotonga.
The Civil List will cover airfares and allowances for Queens Representative Fred Goodwin and his wife, Prime Minister Dr Robert Woonton, Akaoa MP Tapi Taio, Pukapuka MP Tiaki Wuatai. Fares and allowances for deputy prime minister’s adviser Tepure Tapaitau, who will make the return flight from Penrhyn, will be covered by his office support budget.
Rua was originally included in the delegation but has since cancelled because of the impact of the cost on his office budget. He has made his seat available to games organiser Robert Graham, sports manager of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC).
The organisation was hoping to charter its own flight to Pukapuka on Friday, but had to cancel when they were unable to make up a full load of passengers.
A major event for the northern islands, the Purapura Games are the equivalent of the Southern Cook Islands’ Manea Games and are being held for the first time this year. They will be played on Yato field on Pukapuka’s northernmost island of Wale.
Teams from Nassau, Manihiki, Rakanga and Penrhyn are expected to take part. They have fundraised to pay for their boat fares with the help of a $3000 grant for each island from CISNOC.
The games will be officially opened on Monday and will end two weeks later on October 17. They will feature a mix of traditional and conventional sports. Because a high proportion of Pukapuka’s residents are members of the Seventh Day Adventist church, no sports will be played in the weekend. |
